Doubting Hope
Read: John 20:19-31 Unless I see . . . I will never believe. (v. 25) Have you ever felt like Thomas? Especially in my miscarriage grief, I resonated immensely with the disciple nicknamed “Doubting Thomas.” It can be hard to hope. For very logical reasons you might be afraid to hope for fear of being let down. The phrase […]
Grieving with Hope
Read: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 That you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. (v. 13) After my baby died, I spent months feeling hopeless. This felt especially challenging when I remembered that as a follower of Jesus, I did not have to grieve without hope. Hope was available even in my pain, yet […]
Jesus Felt Alone
Read: Mark 15:33-41 Why have you forsaken me? (v. 34) The prophet Isaiah’s characterization of Jesus as “a man of sorrows . . . acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3) is undeniable as the events of Jesus’ betrayal and crucifixion unfolded after the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus experienced betrayal by his closest friends as he cried out to God in […]
Jesus Felt Betrayed
Read: Matthew 26:40-46 Could you not watch with me one hour? (v. 40) When I experienced my miscarriage, I was the first in my group of family or friends to wade through this unique type of grief. Pregnancy and infant loss give way to a grief that is commonly misunderstood, even by loved ones. Particularly in […]
What to Say (and not say) When Someone You Love Has a Miscarriage
Infant loss is a complex form of both loss and grief. It is also frequent, affecting 1 in 4 pregnancies. However, very few of us feel equipped with the “right words” to say when someone we love experiences miscarriage. Let me be the first to say—there will never be a response to miscarriage that feels […]
Jesus Felt Grief
Read: Isaiah 53:1-12 He was . . . acquainted with grief. (v. 3) Reflecting on Jesus’ sorrowful heart in the garden of Gethsemane may provide space for you to ponder the emotional experience of Jesus, perhaps for the first time. For years, I imagined Jesus as a happy, peace-loving hippie. This was reinforced by the positivity of the worship […]
The Garden of Grief
Read: Matthew 26:36-46 My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. (v. 38) The garden of Gethsemane scene may be familiar to you. One spring weekend, this story was no longer just a distant scene for me to imagine—I received a personal invitation into my own garden of grief when my first pregnancy ended in miscarriage. […]
Just Ask
Read: Luke 11:9-13 The heavenly Father [will] give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him! (v. 13) Parenting coach and therapist Mary Van Geffen said in a 2021 Instagram post: “We use words to build each other up and ask for what we want!” This strikes me as a radical—and refreshing—idea. Parental discouragement gave generations […]
October 2022 Prayer Guide
IRAN — Give thanks for the conclusion of another successful discipleship conference held at a safe location outside the country of Iran. Iranian Christians had the opportunity to be baptized and share communion together. All participants were able to return safely to their homes afterwards, built up in their faith and with a better understanding […]